Instead of sugarplums, plywood has been filling the imaginations of Claire McKinney and Sophie Andes-Gascon this season. In the frantic weeks leading up to the holidays, the SC103 founders have been hard at work preparing their first brick-and-mortar store at 25 Henry Street in lower Manhattan. Their involvement has gone far beyond simple decorating—they’ve been dismantling walls, painting, staining wood, and putting in hands-on labor with help from friends and family.
“Claire and I,” Andes-Gascon joked, “should really have an HGTV show—if only we enjoyed being on camera.” After discovering the space on Craigslist, they signed the lease on November 1. Opening day is set for December 12—meaning they transformed the space from empty to fully realized in just 41 days. Determination clearly goes a long way.
Though having their own storefront always felt like a far-off dream, the path to Henry Street can be traced through the pop-up shops they’ve hosted over the years—first on John Street in FiDi, then at Beard Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. “We loved meeting customers face-to-face and welcoming them into our space,” McKinney explained. Andes-Gascon added, “We also love building little worlds and decorating interiors.”
The new boutique is long and narrow, stretching from a street-facing window to a fitting room and a kiosk topped by a small attic alcove revealed when a false wall was removed. Modular displays line the walls, showcasing SC103 pieces alongside curated objects. When McKinney’s father—an architect who drew the plans—saw the finished layout, Andes-Gascon recalled, “he said it looked like the inside of a jewelry box, which makes me think of those twirling figurines. Inside the shop I sometimes feel miniaturized, like a figurine, looking up at everything. It has this tunnel-like, through-the-woods feeling.”
They’ve also found the Two Bridges neighborhood to be warm and community-oriented. Friends operate nearby restaurants, new galleries are arriving, and nearly everything they needed—from lumber to stain—was sourced within a short walk. While the store was still unfinished, people passing by kept peeking through the windows, sparking memories of NoLita in the 2000s, when Jane Mayle and A Détacher’s Mona Kowalska were among the area’s early retail pioneers.
The store’s petite scale creates an intimate shopping experience and heightens the joy of discovery. “We honestly don’t know what the space will look like in a month or two,” Andes-Gascon said. “It’ll probably change every time someone visits.” As with their past studio sales, one-off items will appear alongside SC103 staples such as woven leather bags, patchworked garments, and slip-on trousers. “Seeing what customers respond to in real time—without committing to full production—is a huge advantage,” McKinney said. “And being able to make something and put it out the same day… We love watching people experience our world.”
Opening a permanent store doesn’t just expand SC103’s presence—it brings the duo into a more public sphere than ever before. “It definitely feels like we’re putting ourselves out there; we’ve always operated in our own safe spaces,” Andes-Gascon admitted. Their nervousness is matched by optimism: McKinney views the location as a step toward “carving our own path and staying deeply involved in every part of the process.” That personal, hands-on approach is exactly what fashion—and retail—needs.
SC103’s new shop is located at 25 Henry Street, New York 10002. December hours are Friday–Sunday, 12–7 p.m. (Seasonal updates will be posted on the brand’s website and Instagram.)